The Chevy Nova became a muscle car for those enthusiasts on a budget. The 1968 Chevrolet Nova featured in this article is a light weight automobile that was actually built alongside the Chevy Camaro.
The 1968 Chevy Nova came with a factory standard 350 V8 with 295 horsepower and with an optional Chevrolet 396 V8 big block. Lots of power in a relatively small, lightweight car.
The Third Generation Chevy Nova
The 1968 Chevrolet Nova represented the first of the third generation Nova's.By this time the Nova was much changed from what was first offered in 1962 as an economical compact. In 1968 the Chevy Nova was formally named the Chevy II Nova. That changed however lasted only one year and the name would be dropped in 1969.The Nova SS, a separate series, continued to be marketed as late as 1976 although because of new federal regulations was not the powerful machine seen during the late 1960's. The new 1971/72 federal regulations affected all of the late 60's muscle cars.
The new third generation Chevy Nova design added length to the wheelbase at 111.0 inches. Also, for 1968 the Chevy Nova had a body that was wider, lower and sleeker than the second generation models. The car had the long hood short deck look which you could compare to both the Ford Mustang and the Chevy Camaro.
In 1968 there also was the Chevy Nova 400 series. These cars were different from the Nova SS models in the fact that they were available in two and four door versions.. The Nova 400's came with a base inline six cylinder engine, as well.
The Nova and the Camaro
It's interesting to note that while the Chevy Nova was becoming an American muscle car, Chevrolet already had that market segment covered with their powerful Camaro's.
The Camaro was a direct result of Ford creating their Mustang. The first Chevy Camaro's had just about the exact same dimensions as the Ford Mustang. One could say that with the exception of the design (although it had a long hood and short deck) the first Camaro dimensions matched the Mustang.
In a way the Chevrolet Division of General Motors had two cars for the power buff although at different price points. As far as Pony Cars were concerned, the Chevy Nova SS was not considered among them. These Nova's fit somewhere between Pony Cars and Muscle Cars. It was perplexing that 1968 Nova SS sales were down from the previous year. One would think that with the new, more sleek design plus the increased engine power options sales would have increased. Whatever the reason, sales did increase a year later in 1969 and continued to do so thru 1973.
The Blown 572 Chevy Engine
The muscle car featured here has a Blown 572 Chevy engine.
This Chevy big block 572 cubic inch engine means serious business delivering some 900 horsepower. It seems there is more brute force from the engine as the cubic inch numbers go up. Of course for those wanting even a bigger engine with more brute force there is always the 588 cubic inch big block that puts out something like 1206 horsepower.
The 400 Transmission
The Chevy Nova muscle car shown here has a 400 transmission to match the 572 cubic inch engine. This is a racing transmission. Some of these are built as three speeds ( like the one shown here) and some have been built as two speed transmissions. These high performance transmissions are built to get the engine's vast horsepower to the ground where it counts for dragsters.
1968 Chevy Nova Specifications
As mentioned above, the 1968 Chevy II / Nova offered both a stock 350 and 396 cubic inch engine. The 350 delivered 295 horsepower and the latter 325 horsepower.
Wheelbase was 111.0 inches and the overall length 189.4 inches.
New car price in 1968 was about $2,600 for the stock 350 cubic inch model. Weight came in at 2,995 lbs.
Excellent reference material includes.... Nova SS : Nova and Chevy II 1962-1979 by Steve Statham and A Complete Guide to Street Supercharging by Pat Ganahl.
(Article and photos copyright Muscle Car Journal)
The 1968 Chevy Nova came with a factory standard 350 V8 with 295 horsepower and with an optional Chevrolet 396 V8 big block. Lots of power in a relatively small, lightweight car.
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| 68 Chevy II / Nova |
The 1968 Chevrolet Nova represented the first of the third generation Nova's.By this time the Nova was much changed from what was first offered in 1962 as an economical compact. In 1968 the Chevy Nova was formally named the Chevy II Nova. That changed however lasted only one year and the name would be dropped in 1969.The Nova SS, a separate series, continued to be marketed as late as 1976 although because of new federal regulations was not the powerful machine seen during the late 1960's. The new 1971/72 federal regulations affected all of the late 60's muscle cars.
The new third generation Chevy Nova design added length to the wheelbase at 111.0 inches. Also, for 1968 the Chevy Nova had a body that was wider, lower and sleeker than the second generation models. The car had the long hood short deck look which you could compare to both the Ford Mustang and the Chevy Camaro.
In 1968 there also was the Chevy Nova 400 series. These cars were different from the Nova SS models in the fact that they were available in two and four door versions.. The Nova 400's came with a base inline six cylinder engine, as well.
It's interesting to note that while the Chevy Nova was becoming an American muscle car, Chevrolet already had that market segment covered with their powerful Camaro's.
The Camaro was a direct result of Ford creating their Mustang. The first Chevy Camaro's had just about the exact same dimensions as the Ford Mustang. One could say that with the exception of the design (although it had a long hood and short deck) the first Camaro dimensions matched the Mustang.
In a way the Chevrolet Division of General Motors had two cars for the power buff although at different price points. As far as Pony Cars were concerned, the Chevy Nova SS was not considered among them. These Nova's fit somewhere between Pony Cars and Muscle Cars. It was perplexing that 1968 Nova SS sales were down from the previous year. One would think that with the new, more sleek design plus the increased engine power options sales would have increased. Whatever the reason, sales did increase a year later in 1969 and continued to do so thru 1973.
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| The Blown 572. Don't try to put a hood on this one. |
The muscle car featured here has a Blown 572 Chevy engine.
This Chevy big block 572 cubic inch engine means serious business delivering some 900 horsepower. It seems there is more brute force from the engine as the cubic inch numbers go up. Of course for those wanting even a bigger engine with more brute force there is always the 588 cubic inch big block that puts out something like 1206 horsepower.
Most muscle cars don't have blowers, but some more serious pro-street muscle cars do. Blowers are really another word for "supercharger". What the blower does is force more air into the engine to increase both horsepower and torque.
The larger blowers stick out of the hood (such as the one featured here) but the smaller ones typically fit well underneath. The blowers/superchargers are aftermarket devices. When you add a blower to the engine, serious modifications to the engine itself are necessary although there are milder blower kits that can work directly with stock engines.
The larger blowers stick out of the hood (such as the one featured here) but the smaller ones typically fit well underneath. The blowers/superchargers are aftermarket devices. When you add a blower to the engine, serious modifications to the engine itself are necessary although there are milder blower kits that can work directly with stock engines.
Blowers are certainly nothing new but they have changed from the early days when they were much larger as seen on old GMC diesel engines. Today's blowers are also much more efficient. When a conversation turns to Chevy Blown Big Block engines the matter of money is sure to come up. Chances are very good you're talking about a $25,000 and more engine. With that in mind it's wise to find yourself a capable and recommended engine builder.
You may enjoy our AutoMuseumOnline article on the link below...
1968 Oldsmobile 442 Muscle Car
Also, on Muscle Car Journal...Where Did All the 60's Muscle Cars Go? and Big Oly / A Baja 1000 Legend
You may enjoy our AutoMuseumOnline article on the link below...
1968 Oldsmobile 442 Muscle Car
Also, on Muscle Car Journal...Where Did All the 60's Muscle Cars Go? and Big Oly / A Baja 1000 Legend
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| 400 Transmission 3 speed shifter |
The Chevy Nova muscle car shown here has a 400 transmission to match the 572 cubic inch engine. This is a racing transmission. Some of these are built as three speeds ( like the one shown here) and some have been built as two speed transmissions. These high performance transmissions are built to get the engine's vast horsepower to the ground where it counts for dragsters.
1968 Chevy Nova Specifications
As mentioned above, the 1968 Chevy II / Nova offered both a stock 350 and 396 cubic inch engine. The 350 delivered 295 horsepower and the latter 325 horsepower.
Wheelbase was 111.0 inches and the overall length 189.4 inches.
New car price in 1968 was about $2,600 for the stock 350 cubic inch model. Weight came in at 2,995 lbs.
Excellent reference material includes.... Nova SS : Nova and Chevy II 1962-1979 by Steve Statham and A Complete Guide to Street Supercharging by Pat Ganahl.
(Article and photos copyright Muscle Car Journal)
